Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

पुनस्तया तपस्तप्तं दुष्करं मुनिभिश्च यत् । तस्य लब्धं फलं ह्येतत्पश्यतां दुःखदायकम्

Transliteration

punastayā tapastaptaṃ duṣkaraṃ munibhiśca yat | tasya labdhaṃ phalaṃ hyetatpaśyatāṃ duḥkhadāyakam

Translation

彼女は再び、聖仙たちにさえ困難なほどの苛烈な苦行（タパス）を修した。だがその果報は、目撃した者たちにとって悲嘆の因となってしまった。

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तया: by her
• तया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तप्तम्: performed / undergone (was done)
• तप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तप्’ धातोः

• दुष्करम्: difficult
• दुष्करम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Anuyogī (अनुयोगी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• तस्य: of that / its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लब्धम्: obtained
• लब्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘लभ्’ धातोः

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), अवधारण/हेतुबोधक

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Pradarśya (प्रदर्श्य/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पश्यताम्: of those who see / while (they) see
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पश्’ धातोः

• दुःखदायकम्: pain-giving, causing sorrow
• दुःखदायकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः: ‘दुःखं ददाति’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• munis (sages)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that intense tapas can be outwardly awe-inspiring yet emotionally painful to witness, underscoring that spiritual striving should mature into grace-oriented devotion to Shiva (Pati), not mere self-torment.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In the Parvati narrative, austerity is a preparatory discipline that ripens into focused worship and surrender to Saguna Shiva—often expressed through linga-upasana—where effort is completed by Shiva’s compassionate acceptance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined tapas supported by bhakti—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and contemplative restraint—so that austerity becomes purifying rather than merely harsh.